Council changes traffic rules near park

June 19, 2012

NEGAUNEE - The Negaunee City Council recently approved two changes to parking rules around Miners Park in an effort to make the area safer for the children playing at the playground.

"This will greatly improve the safety around Miners Park. Our previous attempts in controlling children in regards to running across the street there have proved to be fairly futile," Councilman Mark Rogers said. "I'm exceptionally pleased that we're looking at the idea of using one-way streets to address traffic control issues."

The change, as recommended by the Negaunee police Chief Jay Frusti, prohibits parking on the south side of Maas Street between Maple Street and U.S. 41. The order also changes Maple Street between Spruce Street and Maas Street to one-way traffic flowing south. Angle parking will be allowed for one block on the east side of Maple only.

The motion to accept the two traffic control orders was approved unanimously.

The council also approved City Manager Jeff Thornton to negotiate with Marquette County to share assessing services at a cost of up to $34,000. City assessor Dave Palmer, who also serves as the interim Department of Public Works superintendent, is set to retire. Sharing an assessor with another municipality, in this case Marquette County, will allow the city to reduce its costs.

With Palmer's retirement, the city has also posted the position for the DPW superintendent.

In other action, the council:

City officials said they hope the permit requirement will reduce the damage that has been done in areas such as the Old Town, where sizable holes have been dug by persons looking for objects.